Work crews will soon begin replacing the nearly 600-foot-long Vol Navy Dock at Volunteer Landing near Neyland Stadium.

The new dock will be completed and reopened in time for the University of Tennessee’s first home football game on Aug. 31. The project is funded by a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency $400,000 grant, in addition to matching funds of $100,000 from the City and UT.

Every fall, the Vol Navy Dock is the scene of Knoxville’s long-standing tailgating tradition held before UT football games.

“The Vol Navy Dock is a great part of Volunteer Landing, and we’re glad the project will be completed before UT football kicks off,” said Chip Barry, Knoxville Deputy Chief of Operations. 

Volunteer Landing is a 13-acre public recreational space enjoyed daily by boaters and paddlers on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville. The area is also enjoyed by thousands of fishermen, bicyclists and pedestrians using the greenway system that runs alongside the riverfront. 

The current Vol Navy Dock and the concrete pavilion were built in 1994 through a TWRA grant, with some 200 feet added in 1998, Barry said.

The work replaces the existing dock with new composite decking material and also includes two new gangways. The pavilion is a concrete-based structure built into Volunteer Landing and will remain the same.

The City of Knoxville owns the public dock, and UT has agreed to inspect and maintain it, Barry said.

The City will continue to provide trash receptacles and trash pickup. The Public Building Authority is managing the project.